Basketball
Cal Poly Men’s Basketball adds three recruits to class – Mustang News
Cal Poly Men’s Basketball added two new transfers this past week as they continue to rebuild the roster surrounding first-year head coach Mike DeGeorge.
Both of these additions are veterans from DeGeorge’s previous school, Colorado Mesa. He became head coach of Cal Poly on March 26 after leading Colorado Mesa to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament this season.
Most recently, the Mustangs acquired Owen Koonce, a six-foot-five guard/forward who played under DeGeorge at Colorado Mesa for the past three seasons.
On May 29, the team announced the signing of Peter Menzies, a six-foot-seven forward who performed well for the Mavericks but missed extended time due to injuries.
DeGeorge continues to add players from Colorado Mesa who fit his fast-paced offensive style.
The team still does not have a true center on the roster yet, further emphasizing pace and spacing for the offense next year.
Isaac Jessup
Jessup began his collegiate career at CU Boulder and transferred to Colorado Mesa after his freshman year.
He averaged 7.2 points through his three-year tenure at Colorado Mesa and started in 50 games. He earned an Honorable Mention for the RMAC this year and averaged 10.1 points.
Jessup’s skills as a high-level perimeter defender on and off the ball plus being a deep threat on offense should fit well in the offensive pace as DeGeorge and the Colorado Mesa crew adjust to the Big West and the Division I level.
Owen Koonce
As an All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) second-team honoree this past season, Owen Koonce will add more shooting depth and consistency to the roster.
His build as a taller guard fits well into DeGeorge’s system where versatility and ball movement will be a key function within the offense.
In his senior year at Colorado Mesa, he finished the season with a 54.4 field goal percentage which came out to fifth in the RMAC. In 24 of his 33 games played this season, he scored double-digit points.
He made 87.7 percent of his free throws throughout his career and will use his final year of eligibility to play for Cal Poly as a grad student.
Ethan Menzies
Originally from Half Moon Bay, Calif. the six-foot-seven forward Ethan Menzies should provide some length for the Mustangs as the four.
Menzies will be another graduate transfer for the Mustangs, but his career followed a path not as straight as Koonce’s.
He had an outstanding sophomore season for the Mavericks, earning NABC All-America honors and NABC All-West region first team, along with RMAC first-team honors.
With 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, he made a big impact on the Maverick’s season and postseason run, earning RMAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
However, he suffered a pair of knee injuries causing him to miss over two full seasons. He returned in January 2024, averaging 12.3 minutes that season as he recovered.
With two years of eligibility left, DeGeorge and the Mustangs hope he can return to form.
“We’re confident that he will get back to where he was when he earned All-America honors. He’s highly motivated and what he’s been through has only made him stronger,” DeGeorge said on GoPoly.
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